Hi there,
Friends can be there to support you, but sometimes they can upset us with their words or actions. It can be really hurtful if its the people we feel close to that are putting us down.
Its never ok for anyone to say or do something to purposely upset you. That is called bullying. Bullying can happen to anyone for no reason at all. Whether it's how we look, where we come from or what we believe in, its never your fault and they are wrong for doing this.
Having a conversation with your friend and talking about how their words have made you feel and how youd like to be treated as a friend can help someone to realise the impact that their words are having. And how its affecting you. This could help them understand and make things better.
Not all friendships are good for us and its important to be honest with ourselves about that. If you no longer feel confident in the friendship then its ok to also look for ways to make new friends.
If people say upsetting things to you many times it can affect your confidence and self-esteem. If something is being said or done that upsets you then you have a right to speak out about this. And to get some support to help make it stop. Sometimes it can be hard to do this on your own and you might like to think about asking an adult for help to make sure this doesnt happen again.
You can also always talk to a counsellor for support. They're always here to support you if youd like to talk things through.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
